How to lower the likelihood of ending up in the emergency room

Nearly 140 million people in the U.S. sought care in an emergency room (ER) according to the most recent statistics gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics. There were a number of reasons for these visits, including the fact that people needed care when their primary care provider or specialist’s office was not open. The most common reasons people went to the ER included stomach pain, chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, fever, headache/head pain, general pain, back symptoms, vomiting, and mental health symptoms.

Be prepared when you go to the ER

When you do need to seek care at the ER, these steps can help you get the care you need and lower the risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate care:

• Be ready to describe your symptoms and medical history. When possible, make a list of your symptoms so you can share this information with the healthcare providers who treat you. Include when the symptoms started, whether you’ve experienced them before, what makes them worse or better, how long they’ve been occurring, and why these symptoms prompted you to seek emergency care. You’ll also want to share your personal and family medical history.
• Bring an advocate. When you’re very ill or in pain, it can be hard to understand and provide the medical information needed to make an accurate diagnosis. Bring someone you trust with you who can ask and answer questions and advocate on your behalf.
• Ask for a diagnosis. If the provider doesn’t have a definitive diagnosis, ask what the potential diagnoses are and how likely each one is.
• Learn what happens next. Find out whether you’ll be staying for observation, admitted to the hospital, or discharged. Will you undergo more tests or need surgery or another type of procedure? If you’re discharged, review your discharge notes, ask what symptoms mean you should return to the emergency room, and make needed follow-up appointments. Also ask if there will be test results you should check after your discharge.

While in emergency health situations your first call should be to 911 or going to the ER, you should also call PinnacleCare. Our team is available 24/7 for support and your Health Advisor can securely send your up to date, electronic medical records to any provider who treats you. Giving your ER team greater knowledge and history about your health. After treatment at the hospital, your Health Advisor can also help with “what happens next.” Whether you need follow-up appointments, additional testing, or help finding a specialist, PinnacleCare can help you manage all the logistics, answer your questions, and find the best providers for your needs.

When is urgent care the right choice?

Urgent care can be an option for a range of issues if you cannot see your primary care provider, such as sprains, cuts that need stitches but are not deep or bleeding heavily, urinary tract infections, colds or flu, sore throat, ear infections, rashes, and minor burns. Some urgent care clinics also offer basic immunizations, physicals, and some types of diagnostic tests.

Depending on the regulations of the state where you’re seeking care, the caregiver at an urgent care clinic may be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Keep in mind that there’s a difference between an urgent care clinic and a retail clinic like the ones you can find in pharmacies and big box stores. Many retail clinics are staffed only by nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants.

You don’t need an appointment at an urgent care clinic and many have extended hours that include nights and weekends. Your PinnacleCare Health Advisor can proactively locate urgent care clinics near you within your insurance network.

Strategies that can help you avoid the ER and urgent care

To lower the likelihood that you will need to make a trip to the ER or urgent care, there are some proactive steps you can take:

• Stay up to date on preventive care. Recommended physicals, immunizations, and screening tests, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar tests and cancer screenings, can help your healthcare provider both diagnose and treat health problems before they lead to an emergency and help you build a proactive strategy to lower your risk of developing chronic conditions and serious illnesses that can impact your health. If you are living with a chronic condition, follow your provider’s guidance on managing it and take any medication as prescribed.
• Make your home safer. Many accidents happen at home, but there are simple steps that can help you prevent them. Keep all stairs clear of tripping hazards, don’t let clutter build up on the floor, and make sure rugs are secured with non-skid pads or carpet tape. To lower the risk of burns, keep your hot water heater at 120 degrees or less. If you have children at home, secure furniture and televisions to a wall to stop them from tipping over on your child and child-proof cabinets and drawers that contain things that could be dangerous like cleaning supplies, batteries, matches, and medications.

PinnacleCare Support

While you can’t always anticipate when a health need will arise, especially in emergency situations, you can be prepared, and PinnacleCare can help. Connect with our team today to learn more.

PinnacleCare is a member of the Sun Life Financial Inc. (“Sun Life”) family of companies. PinnacleCare and its employees do not diagnose medical conditions, recommend treatment options or provide medical care, and any information or services provided should not be considered medical advice. Any medical decisions should be made only after consultation with and at the direction of your medical provider. Any person or entity who provides health care services following a referral or other service provided does so independently and not as an agent or representative of PinnacleCare.

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PCWC-10116-18                                                    #1680236656 06/25 (exp. 06/27)